"'Pirates 4' is in process as we speak. So they're still writing," Marshall explained. "I've heard a couple of exciting ideas, but they're still in process. My hope is that we'll be able to shoot it sometime in 2010."

There's still some question as to which familiar faces will be returning. Depp is obviously a huge component of any "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie, but Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley make up a big part of the continuing story. Marshall, for his part, is in the dark right now.

"[The writers are] experimenting with everything I think, so... I'm not sure where they're going to head," he said.

A possible 3-D release is also a consideration, given the prevalence of major releases utilizing the technology these days (see also: "Avatar") It's easy to simply assume that it will happen. That may not be the case however, according to Marshall. Not as far as his own plans go, anyway.

"I'm not from the technical world in that way, so it's not something I've ever aspired to do," he said. "My guess is it's going to be maybe more performance-driven. Which would be exciting too, because Johnny is a brilliant actor."

"I'm excited to come on board if it all comes together because it's, you know, new blood," Marshall explained, adding "I'll sort of approach it from another place. And still, to work with the brilliant Johnny Depp, that's the reason for me to do it."

Would you see an Orlando/Keira-free "Pirates" movie as long as Depp were still there? How about Marshall's ambivalence towards 3-D? Is there room for a 3-D movie that is ALSO performance-driven?